Time-controlled switch



April l5, 1930.' G, M BRl H-.Jr-U-;r\'V 1,754,933

` TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Dec. 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l wtgygmm ATTORNE Y.

P' 15; 1930 GJM. BRUNNER 1,754,933

TIME CGNTROLLED SWITCH Filed Dec, 20. 1926 2 Sheets-Shee 2 nvm/555:5- lINVENTOR.

f 650/?6'5 Maiz/M1151? A TTORNEY.

' Patented Apr. 15, 1930 PATENT 'o1-FICE GEORGE BRUNNER, OF ROSEBURG,OREGON l TIME-cournomnn SWITCH Application tiled December 20, 1926. iSerial No. 156,018.

This invention relates to the class of switches and pertainsparticularly to a time controlled switch.

The primary object of this invention is the provision, in a manner asVhereinafter set forth, of a time controlled switch for use inconnection with electric current supply lines to households, stores, or4other places where electric current is consumed, designed to be set inoperation after the insertion of a coin, and so adusted as to run tomaintain the circuits close for a vpredetermined period of time. Y

Another object of the invention is to pro- 15 vide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, in

connection with a coin operated controlled switch, novel meanswhereby'an electr1c circuit may be broken by a time mechanismafter theelapse of a predeterminedl period 20 0f time.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, of a coin controlled electric switch of simpleconstruction, positive operation, and

comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will appear asthe description of the same progresses, and the invention will be bestunderstood from the consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection-with the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, with the understanding, however, that the inventionis not confined to any strict conformity with the showing ofthe-drawings, but may be changed or modified so long as lsuch changes ormodifications mark no material departure from the salient features ofthe invention, as set forth in the appended claims. 1

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the casing of thestructure taken on a plane parallel with the front side thereof, showingthe mechanism withinthe casing in front elevation; u

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the casing of thestructure 1n a plane 50 at right angles to the front and rear walls,

showing the top plan; p v v Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed side ele-yvation of a portion of the mechanism, parts thereof being broken awayand in section;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3;Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3; yFigure 6 is an enlarged detail top plan B0v ,View of the switchreleasing gear wheel and associate parts.

operating mechanism therein in Referring nowito the drawings in detail,

wherein like numerals of reference are usedv to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the switchmechanism housing or casing formed of the usual heavy metal, such asthat 4from which fuse boxes and switch boxesare formed,

and hingedly secured to the casing and closingthe front side thereof isa coverdoor 2, while formed through the bottom wall of the casling is apair of apertures having insulating sleeves 3 fixed therein for thepassa-geef electric wires 4.

. The top wall of the casing'l is provided with a longitudinallyextending slot arranged at a. point between the center and one end ofthe box and adjacent this slot is i formed a smaller coin slot.

Mounted Within the casing 1 and secured to the rear wall thereof as at 6is a mecha-l nism supporting frame comprising front and rear walls 7 and8 respectively, which are in the form of elongated plates as shown, andthese plates are in spaced parallel relation and connected together attheir left hand ends by the cross portion 9.

Extending to the left from the rear plate 8 is an arm 10 having the freeend thereofDO turned forwardly at right angles as indicated at 11.Mounted upon the cross member 9 is a switch base 12 having the slottedcontacts 13 and 14 of the usual construction between which a knife arm15 connects. The arm 95 15 is pivotally attached to the Contact 13 formotement into and out of engagement with the other contact 14. As isclearly shown in Figure 1, the wires 4 are attached to the confacts 13and 14 and thus when the switch 100 Ibetween the ends of these wires.

Projecting forwardly from the head 16 of the switch blade 15 is a pinl17 to which is attached one end of a contractile spring 18, the otherend of which spring is connected to the portion 11 of the memher 10.From this it will be readily seen that the spring member 18 acts tonormally maintain the switch blade 15in opened position to break thecircuit in which the switch is placed.

Adjacent to and parallel with the rear face of the plate 7, there isarranged a fixed plate 19, carrying the spaced lugs 20 and 21, whichmaintain this plate in spaced relation to the plate 7. A portion of theupper surface of the lug 2() and the inner surface of the lug 21 areinclined downwardly and to the right.

Slidably supported upon the lugs 20 and 21 between the fixed late 19 andthe frame plate 7 is a switch setting plate indicated generallyV by thenumeral 22. From the left hand end of this plate adjacent to the upperedge thereof, there projects an elongated arm 23, which is preferablyformed of insulating material and the free angular end 24 of this arm 23is provided with a slot, through which the pin 17 of the switch bladeprojects.

The sliding plate 22 has projecting from the upper edge thereof, atright angles therev to, toward the frame plate 8, the member 25.

As shown in Figure 6,'this member`25 is arranged between the ends of theplate 22. Secured to the lower face of the member 25 is a substantiallyU-shaped member or yoke indicated as a whole by the numeral 26, the legs27 of this U-shaped member being extended downwardly' .between the frameplate 8 and the fixed plate 19, as is clearly shown in Figure 5. Y

The sliding plate 22 carries adjacent its i right hand end, upon therear face thereof,

the flat lug 28 which, when the plate 22 is moved to the right to closethe switch, is adapted to engage the right hand edge of the fixed plate19. A spring 29 has one end secured to the rear side of the late 22, asshown in Figure 2, to the left o the member 25, while the other end ofthe spring is secured to the cross member 9 -of the mechanism frame. Thenormal action of this spring 1s to pull the plate 22 to the left andalso to pull the plate rearwardly toward the fixed frame plate 8, itbeing shown that the left hand end of the spring is fixed adjacent tothe plate8 and thus a rearward pull is exerted upon the plate 22. Whenthe plate 22 is moved to the right, then-this spring 29 acts to draw itover, so that the lug 28 will engage the fixed plate 19, as set forth.

A pair of spaced lugs 30 are formed upon the front face of the slidingplate 22 or between the plate 22 and the plate 7 of the mechanism frame,and these lugs 30 and the lug 20, when the plate 22 is in normalposition, as shown in Figure 3, are so related as to constitute asupport for a coin, such as that indicated in dotted line in this fiure, which when resting thereon will not fall etween the lugs 2O and 21,but when the plate 22 moves to the right and pressure is removed fromthe coin, as will be hereinafter described, then the coin is permittedto pass between the 1u s 20 and 21 through a passage in the plateindicated at 31, into a pocket 32, which is mounted upon the late 7below thenpassage 31. A finger 33 ormed upon the plate 7 guides the cointhrough the passage 31, instead of allowing the coin to pass through theback of the mechanism frame.

Arranged between the sliding plate 22 and the frame plate 7, is asliding coin plate 33, the rear face of the sliding coin plate having alug 34 formed thereon, which is arranged to the left of and in a planebetween the lugs 30 of the plate 22 and is designed to bear upon thecoin resting upon the lug 20 in-contact with the lugs 30 to force theentire plate 22 to the right. The u per edge ofthe plate 33a is providedwith anges 35 and 36, the

flange 35 being arranged at right angles to the face of the plate,whereas the fian es 36 are turned downwardly in spaced relation to teplate 33a and overlie the upper edge of t e for the plate 33a upon thiswall. A spring 37 is engaged between the guide fiange 3 6 and the frameplate 7 and normally acts to draw the` coin plate 33a to the left.Pivotally mounted upon the opposite side of the mechanism wall plate 7is an operating lever 38, which bears against the flange 35 and byoperation on this flange causes the coin plate 33 to be moved to theright. This lever 38 extends through the longitudinal slot formed in thetop wall of the casing 1.

Extending between the frame plates 7 and 8 is a shaft 39, the ends ofwhich extend through longitudinally extending slots 40,

, so that the shaft is adapted to move horizontally in the same, as willbe readily seen. Mounted upon this shaft is a gear wheel 4l. Upon thefront side of this gear wheel 41 is fixed a pin 42, which, under certainconditions, moves against a stop yspring 43, mounted upon the frameplate 7 Upon each of the plates 7 and 8 there is mounted a spring 44,the free ends 45 of which engage the shaft 39, and normally maintainsthe shaft with its ends in the left hand ends of the slots 40. It willbe seen that movement of the gear wheel 41 to the right is against theresistance of these springs 44.

Secured to the rear sidepof the gear wheel 4l is an angled plate 46, oneangle of which rame plate 7, and act as a guide means has the free edgethereof arranged to move them, the arm 49', extending downwardly acrossthe front face of the plate 8, while the arm 5 0 extends to the frontside of the mechanism frameand terminates in a foot portion 51, which isarranged adjacent to and designed to contact with the rear side or faceof the right hand portion of the shiftable or sliding plate 22.

Secured to the right hand end of the mechanism frame, between the endsof the frame plates 7 and 8, is a clock mechanism indicated as a Wholeby the numeral 52. The main spring gear wheel 53 of the clock mechanismis arranged to the right of the gear wheel 41 and, when the device isset so that the switch blade 15 is opened as shown in Figure 3, the

gear wheel 41 will be out of connection with the gear 53'. When the gearwheel 41 is moved to the right, then the teeth of this wheel will engagewith thefgear wheel 53 and the wheel 41 will be revolved by this mainspring gear wheel.

The' main spring shaft 54 is extended through the face ofthe casing 1 sothat a key can be engaged therewith for winding the clock mechanism asneeded.

Theoperation of this device is as follows:

A coin of the proper denomination is inserted to the position, asindicated in the dotted lines in Figure 3, being arranged upon the lug20 between the lug 34 and the lugs 30. After the insertion of the coin,the lever 38 is drawn to the right acting upon the plate 33a to causethe lug 34 'to move to the right against the coin, and continuedpressure upon the plate 33a will ycause the sliding plate 22 and coinlto move to they right. It will be readily seen that during thisoperation, the knife blade of the switch will be swung intoengagementwith the contact 14. As the plante 22 moves to the right, thespring 29 w1ll draw thereon to cause the lug 28 to move rearwardly andengage the fixed plate 19 at the proper time and simultaneous with thismovement the yoke 26 will contact with the shaft 39 and move the gear 4lagainst the tension of the springs 44 into engagement with the gear 53.Dueto the Aengagement of the lug 28 with the fixed plate 19, these gearswill be locked in mesh, so that the gear 41 will be revolved by theclock mechanism.

The rearward movement of the right hand end of the plate 22 will alsobring this plate into Contact with the foot portion 51 of the release ortrip mechanism 48 and the elements are so arranged that after the lapseof a predetermined period of time, the trip operating device 46 carriedupon the wheel 41 will force its wav between the arm 49 and the plate 8,thus causing the two arms 49 and 50to move forwardly bringing pressureagainst the right hand cnd of the plate 22. This pressure will disengagcthe lug 28 from the plate 19 and the springs 18 .and 29 will then comeinto play to draw the plate 22 to the left and open the switch, as willbe readily apparent.

Simultaneous with the above described action, the gear wheel 41 will bemoved to the right by the springs 44 as the yoke 26 moves away from theshaft 39 against which it bears when the mechanism is set. The spring 43is arranged below and to the right of the shaft 39, and the pin 42 restsupon the spring when the switch is opened. During the operation of thedevice to effect the closing of the switch, the pin 42 travels upwardlyaway from the spring 43 until the angled plate o1' trip 46 moves themember 48 far enough to free the plate 22 from engagement with the fixedplate 19. The trip 46 now occupies a position above the spring 43 and tothe right of the shaft 39. Due to the position thereof, the trip 46 willby its weight, immediately after the gear 41 is moved out of engagementwith the gear 53, move the gear 41 backwardly until the pin 42 againcontacts with the spring or stop 43v returned to and supported in itsnormal po.

sition and the device reset for further'operation.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. Ina time controlled coin operated switch of the character described,a switch structure includinv' a swinging knife blade, switch platemember having connection with said knife blade, a sliding coin platearranged in side by side relation with the switch plate, means forcausing said coin plate and said switch plate to operate simultaneouslythrough a coin connection vtherebetween for the closing of said switch,means for moving the switch plate laterally to cause it to engage afixed portion of the structure to maintain the switch in closedposition, a time mechanism, and trip means operable by said timemechanism to cause the release of the sliding switch plate to open saidswitch.

2. In a time controlled switch operating mechanism of the characterdescribed, a switch structure, including a swinging knife blade contact,a switch blade control plate, means operating upon said plate to causethe same to normally hold said blade in open circuit position, means forengaging and holding the plate in switch closed position against theaction of the holding means acting thereon, a trip mechanism forreleasing said plate, a time mechanism, means for establishingconnection between said trip mechanism and said time mechanism upon themovement of said plate to a locked switch closing position, a slidingcoin plate, means carried by said coin plate and said switch controlplate for rcceiving and holding a coin between the plates, and apivotally operating lever acting upon the a sliding coin plate and desied to move said switch fplate downwardly a ter the insertion of a coininto said coin holding means.

3. In a time controlled switch mechanism,

n switch structure, a sliding element operating for the opening of saidswitch.

4. In a time controlled switch mechanism, a switch structure, a slidingelement operating to open and close said structure, means for lockingthe said sliding element in switch closed position, a geared timemechanism, a gear wheel adapted to be moved into mesh with a gear ofsaid time mechanism u on the movement of said sliding element to ockingposition, a coin controlled means controlling the shifting of thesliding element, a trip element, and means carried by said gear wheelfor actuating said trip after revolving a predetermined distance tounlock the sliding element for the opening of said switch, and means fordisengaging said gear wheel from said time mechanism upon the operationof said sliding means to open the switch.

5. In a switch controlled mechanism of the character described, a switchelement including a pivoted contact blade, an elongated shiftable platehaving connection with said blade, a fixed element arranged adjacentsaid plate, a resilient member normally urging said plate toward saidfixed element, coincontrolled means' for shifting said plate to closesaid switch blade, means for causing loci-:in engagement between saidplate and fixed e ement upon the operation of said plate shifting means,a time mechanism, a laterally movable tri element desi ed to disengagesaid plate om said fixe member, after a predetermined period of time, toenable said resilient element to move the plate for the opening of saidswitch, and means for establishing an operative connection between thetrip element and the time mechanism.

v 6. In a switch controlled mechanism of the character described, aswitch element includa ivoted contact blade, an elongated shiftab eplate having connection with said blade, a fixed element arrangedadjacent said plate, a resilient member normally urging said platetoward said fixed element, coin con`\ trolled means for shifting saidplate to close said switch blade, means for causing locking engagementbetween said plate and said fixed element upon the operation of saidplate shiftingmeans, a time mechanism, a laterally movable trip elementdesigned to disengage said -said shiftable yplate for coupling said timemechanism with said trip structure.

7. A coin operated time controlled electric switch, comprising a pair ofshiftable plate members arranged in spaced side by side relation, meansfor coupling said plates for concerted movement by the insertion of acoin therebetween, means for manuall actuating one of the plates aftercoupling t e same together, means Vfor coupling the other of said platesto a switch, a lug formed on one face of said other plate for engagementunder a fixed element after the said plate has moved a predetermineddistance longitudinally to close the switch, a trip trigger comprising asubstantially Y-shaped member pivotally mounted at the point of joinderof t e divergent arms thereof and arranged to have one of the armsengaged by the switch actuating plate when the same is movedlongitudinally to the position described to cause the trigger to beswung laterally, a time mechanism 1ncluding a main operatin gear, a gearmember designed to be shifted or engagement with said main gear u on themovement of the last mentioned p ate to the position described, andmeans carried by said shiftable gear for enga ement with the other armof said trip mem er after rotation a predetermined distance by the gearmechanism, to

shift said trip device to cause the first mentioned armthereof torelease the switch controlling late for reverse longitudinal movement,substantially as set forth.

8. A coin operated time controlled electric switch, comprising a pair ofshiftable plate members arranged in spaced side by side relation, meansfor coupling said plates for concerted movement by the insertion'of acoin therebetween, means for manually actuating one of the plates aftercoupling the same together, means for coupling the other of said platesto a switch, a lug formed on one face of said other plate for engagementunder a fixed element after the said plate has moved a predeterminddistance longitudinally to close the switch, a trip trigger comprising asubstantially Y-shaped member pivotally mounted at the point of joinderof the diver ent arms thereof and arranged to have one o the armsengaged by the switch actuating plate when the same is movedlongitudinally to the position described to cause the trigger to beswung laterally, a time mechanism including a vmain operating gear, 'agear member designed to be shifted for engagement with said main gearupon the movement of the last mentioned plate to the position described,and means carried by said shiftable gear for engagement with the otherarm of` said trip member after rotation a predetermined distance by thetime mechanism, to shift said trip device to cause the rst mentioned armthereof to release the switch controlling plate for reverse longitudinalmovement, and means whereby, upon the reverse movement of the switchcontrolling plate, said shiftable gear will be moved out of engagementwith the time mechanism gear.

9. A coin operated time controlled electric switch, comprising a pair ofshift-able plate members arranged in spaced side by side relation, meansfor coupling said plates for concerted movement by the insertion of acoin therebetween, means for manually actuating one of the plates aftercoupling the same together, means for coupling the other 'of said platesto a switch, a lug formed on one face of said other late for engagementunder a xed element a ter the'said plate has moved a 'predetermineddistance longitudinally to close the switch, a trip trigger comprising asubstantially Y-shaped member pivotally mounted at thepoint of joinderof the divergent arms thereof and arranged to have one of the armsengaged by the switchactuating plate when the same is movedlongitudinally to the position described to causel the same to be swunglaterally, a time mechanism including a main operating gear, a gearmember designed to be shifted for engagement with-said main gear uponthe moveynent of the last mentioned plate to the posi- 'tion described,and means carried by said Shiftable gear for engagement with the otherarm of said trip member after rotation a predetermined distance by thetime mechanism, to shift said trip device to cause the first mentionedarm thereof to be released for reverse longitudinal movement, and meansfor reversely rotating said shiftable gear after the actuation of saidtrip, for moving the trip engaging means carried by the gear away fromthe trip.

10. A switch controlling mechanism, comprising a time mechanism, anelement connected to the switch and adapted to be moved to close theswitch, coin controlled means for moving said element, means adapted tolatch said element in switch closing position, a trip element for saidlatchin means pivotally mounted and including a pa1r of arms, meansunder the control of the time mechanism for operating the trip elementafter the expiration of'a predetermined period of time from the closingof the switch, said last means being adapted to engage one of the armsof the trip element for moving thefther of its arms in engagement withsaid latching means to eiect the release of the switch closing element,and means for opening the switch after the operation of the tripelement.

to close the switch, coin controlled means for moving said element,means adapted to latch said element in switch closing position, a tripelement forv said latching means pivotally,

mounted and embodying arms, means under the control of the timemechanism for operating the trip element at the expiration of apredetermined period of timefrom the closing of the switch, said lastmeans being adapted to engage one arm of the trip element to move itsother arm into engagement said latching means 'to ei'ect the release ofthe said switch closing element, said last means being mounted formovement into and out of enga ement with the time mechanism, meansassociated with said switch closing element and trip-operating means formoving the latter into engagement with the time mechanism on the closingof the switch, means for moving the trip operating means out ofengagement With the time mechanism on the operation of the trip element,and means for opening the switchafter the operation of the trip element.

` 12. A switch controlling mechanism, comprising a time mechanism, anelement connected to the switch and adapted to be moved to close theswitch, coin controlled means for moving said element, means adapted tolatchv said element in switch closing position, a trip element for saidlatching means, trip operating means adapted-to be operated by the timemechanism and mounted for movement into'and out of engagement with themechanism, means associated wit-h said switch closing element and tripoperating means for moving the latter into engagement with the timemechanism on the closing of the switch, means for moving the tripoperating mechanism out of engagement with the time mechanism on theoperating of said trip element, and means for opening the switch afterthe operation of said trip element.

In testimony whereof he has` alixed his signature.

' 4GEORGE g M. BRUNNER.

11. A switch controlling mechanism, comprising a time mechanism, anelement connected to the switch and adapted to be moved

